Religion Briefs

VOM assists former Islamic apologist The Voice of the Martyrs has provided encouragement and financial help to "Mohammad" an Islamic apologist who converted to Christianity.

Before becoming a Christian, Mohammad wrote articles attempting to prove Islam was the only way to God. After they were written, however, Mohammad began to have doubts about Islam. He saw violence in Islam and heard his colleagues say that one day those who follow Islam will invade Europe and take their women. After hearing this, Mohammad was very disgusted.

Later, Mohammad met a Christian who invited him to his house and gave him a Bible. Following his conversion, Mohammad was arrested and imprisoned for two years. Since Mohammad's release from prison, many attempted to kill him. He has been receiving threats from neighbors and his extended family since he was released.

The Voice of the Martyrs has provided financial assistance and food for Mohammad's family. VOM encourages you to pray for Mohammad, his family and other believers in the Middle East who have great challenges because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Ask God to give them courage and boldness to stand for their faith.

Indian Christians face forced conversionWASHINGTON • The Roman Catholic archbishop over the Indian state of Orissa says Christians who fled intense persecution there are being forced to convert to Hinduism if they return.

Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, who visited Washington last week, said Christians who refuse "have been assaulted, tortured or killed" in front of their families. He said he's assured parishioners in his archdiocese that signing conversion papers under duress won't change their status as Catholics.

Since last August, dozens of Christians have been killed and thousands have been injured. Christians' homes and churches have been burned and an estimated 50,000 have fled into jungles or refugee camps.

Cheenath says India's Supreme Court has ordered the government to stop the violence and pay compensation to the victims, but many are too frightened to return home.

Report: Myanmar's Chin Christians persecuted BANGKOK, THAILAND • A human rights group says the minority Christians living in the remote mountains of northwestern Myanmar are subject to forced labor, torture, extrajudicial killings and religious persecution by the country's military regime.

A report on the Chin people by Human Right Watch says tens of thousands have fled the Chin homeland into neighboring India, where they face abuse and the risk of being forced back into Myanmar.

The report said says Myanmar's regime, attempting to suppress minority cultures, is destroying churches, interfering with worship services and promoting Buddhism through threats and inducements.

Some 90 percent of the Chin are Christians, most of them adherents to the American Baptist Church.

Jordanians on trial for attacking church AMMAN, JORDAN • Twelve Jordanians of Palestinian origin are on trial for allegedly carrying out terrorist attacks on a Christian church and cemetery in Jordan.

The 12 men stood quietly in the dock to hear the charges against them, which included making Molotov cocktails which they hurled at the cemetery and church.

The charge sheet says they decided to attack Christians in Jordan after allegedly discovering that a young Christian boy was sending cell phone messages mocking Muhammad and the Quran.

If convicted, the suspects could be sentenced to death.

Bill would allow concealed guns LITTLE ROCK, ARK. • People who are licensed to carry concealed handguns would be allowed to take them into church under a bill filed by Arkansas lawmakers.

The bill is backed by 10 Republican and five Democratic legislators. It would remove churches or houses of worship from the list of places where concealed handguns cannot be carried.

The bill also would allow concealed guns in the parking lots of places of worship.

State Representative Beverly Pyle says it would make churches safer because would-be attackers could no longer assume that worshipers are unarmed and defenseless.

U.S. to fund restoration of ancient Babylon WASHINGTON • The United States has pledged $700,000 to help restore ancient Babylon.

In a news release, the U.S. State Department says "'The Future of Babylon' project exemplifies the American people's commitment to the preservation of human heritage and their respect for the cultural heritage of Iraq."

The State Department says the funding will allow the World Monuments Fund and Iraq's Board of Antiquities and Heritage to plan for Babylon's "conservation, study and tourism."

Members battling to save churchesNEW ORLEANS • Parishioners who've been battling to save two New Orleans Catholic churches from being closed are turning to the Vatican for help.

Members of St. Henry and Our Lady of Good Counsel churches, which have been closed by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, say they want the Vatican to appoint a new bishop for the city.

The protesters say Archbishop Alfred Hughes closed their churches, even though both were financially stable and had steady attendance.